Jennifer Dalton Wildlife and Nature Art

Jennifer Dalton Wildlife and Nature Art Dr. Jennifer E. Songbirds and aquatic birds are among my very favourites.

Dalton | PhD (Law)
Multi-award-winning Professional Fine Artist 🎨
Former Professor 🏛️
Specializing in highly detailed realistic art, handmade with heart, passion & precision ✨
Animal & human justice ⚖️
Welcome to my Studio 🖼️
©2026 ABOUT THE ARTIST

​I am a Canadian wildlife and nature artist who illuminates the light and souls of birds, animals, flowers and nature in my artwork. My primary medium

is soft pastel, although I occasionally work in other mediums, including acrylic, watercolour, coloured pencil, charcoal and graphite.

​My artistic style focuses on realism and hyperrealism. I enjoy working with vibrant, unusual and dazzling colours to give joy to viewers and uplift the Spirit.

​As I have continued to build my portfolio, birds have become a key area of my focus. I also have a particular affinity for bringing flowers to life in my artwork.

​ACADEMIC BACKGROUND & ARTISTIC DEVELOPMENT

​I started exploring art after a mid-life career change. My first career was as a professor and researcher, after obtaining four degrees, including a PhD in Law. I subsequently transitioned into practice as a professional spiritual advisor and intuitive. In the last few years, I began delving into visual arts, first learning graphite sketching through the Robert Bateman Nature Sketch program, and then subsequently expanding to various other mediums, including coloured pencil, watercolour, charcoal and acrylic. I pursued much of this learning independently.

​As I continued experimenting with different mediums, I discovered soft pastel, which quickly became my favourite medium because of the vibrant colours, pure pigments and tactile feel. Soft pastel is also the perfect match for my realistic style and depictions of sleek feathers, vibrant flowers and soft fur. Through continuous practice, dedicated study and refining my techniques, I have developed a distinct approach to capturing wildlife and nature with fine precision and realistic detail.

​RECOGNITION & COMMUNITY

​I am active in many online art communities and endeavours. In addition to continually expanding my portfolio, I have won awards and recognition for excellence in multiple juried international art competitions and exhibitions.

​MISSION & VISION

My background as a spiritual advisor and intuitive deeply informs my artistic practice. It allows me to connect with the unique energy of each being and translate that essence into my artwork.

​My overall objective is to showcase the inherent beauty and light in living creatures, to reveal their souls and sentient natures. I have held these beliefs and values about the natural world since I was a child, and I consider it an honour to help promote these ideals with my artwork.

​I hope to help develop greater public awareness of the value of animals and all living things as beings who are worthy of deep respect, care and protection. Through my artwork, I envision a world that upholds and honours conservation, peace and respect for all sentient beings.

🪶 BOLD & UNWAVERING: The Timeless Presence of the Crimson Cardinal ✨Brilliant crimson plumage cuts through the backgroun...
08/25/2026

🪶 BOLD & UNWAVERING: The Timeless Presence of the Crimson Cardinal ✨

Brilliant crimson plumage cuts through the background noise, declaring an uncompromising commitment to authenticity and strength 🌠

Beyond striking visual appeal, Cardinals carry a profound history of symbolism, representing love, passion, resilience and an enduring Spirit 🕯️

In sacred traditions, Cardinals act as Divine messengers from loved ones and carriers of the soul, guiding us toward deep soul reconnection 🕊️

Their association with the holiday season and Christmas signals new beginnings 🎄

When Cardinals appear in dreams, they bring confirmation of self-discovery, self-honesty, self-love and the gentle message to accept your flaws 🌟

As a Spirit Animal, the Cardinal teaches us to trust our inner voice and intuition 💫

They inspire compassion, sensitivity and stability, while building self-confidence and the strength to take action despite obstacles 🌿

Cardinal energy promotes initiative, determination and an organised, detail-oriented approach to making things happen ⚡

On a spiritual level, Cardinals represent transcendence, transformation and continuous spiritual growth. They anchor us in balance, bringing harmony and genuine heart-centred connection into focus 🕯️

I hope this vibrant reminder of strength and self-honesty brings a spark of inspiration and motivation to your feed today ✨

ARTWORK DETAILS

🖼️ Title: "Joyful"

🎨 Medium: Soft pastel — Derwent Art, Caran d'Ache, STABILO Carbothello and Faber-Castell Pitt pastel pencils for the details;
PanPastel Artist Pastels, Sennelier and Schmincke soft pastels for the background

📜 Surface: PastelMat by Clairefontaine

📏 Size: 12 x 9.5 inches (30.5 x 24 cm)

📷 Reference Photo: marcophotos (used with permission)

Which element of the Cardinal's message—love, Divine connection, self-honesty or trusting your inner guidance—resonates with you most today? ✨

✨ FEARLESS COLOUR: The Power of Pure Pigment ✨I did not want to "play it safe" when I first started soft pastels as a m...
08/24/2026

✨ FEARLESS COLOUR: The Power of Pure Pigment ✨

I did not want to "play it safe" when I first started soft pastels as a medium 🎨

I called this Nicobar Pigeon "Resplendence", and I chose him for my first soft pastel piece because I specifically wanted to work with bright colours, intense saturation and the complexity of feathers 🪶

I took on a significant challenge when I chose such a complex subject right out of the gate 🕊️

Feathers are intricate on their own, but trying to capture plumage that changes colour mid-feather required careful layering and focus 🖌️

Soft pastels consist of almost pure pigment. This particular bird demonstrates just how intensely bright and saturated the medium can be, especially when contrasting his vivid feathers against a soft and muted background 🎨

Instead of standard plumage, these magnificent birds feature long, mane-like neck hackles that drape down over their shoulders 🌿

This specific texture added a new level of intricacy to drawing feathers 🪶

The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List classifies the Nicobar Pigeon as Near Threatened due to habitat loss on secluded island breeding grounds 🌏

It is personally important to me to highlight incredible species like the Nicobar Pigeon. I believe in bringing awareness to wildlife conservation and protection through my artwork 🕊️

This piece ultimately set the foundation for my career as a wildlife artist, and more specifically a bird artist 🦜

ARTWORK DETAILS

🖼️ Title: "Resplendence"

🖌️ Medium: PanPastel Artist Pastels, Sennelier and Schmincke soft pastel sticks for the background; soft pastel pencils for the details (STABILO CarbOthello, Caran d'Ache and Faber-Castell Pitt)

📜 Surface: Light grey PastelMat by Clairefontaine

📏 Size: 12 x 9.5 in (approx. 30.5 x 24 cm)

📷 Reference Photo: Pixabay

✅ Which part of this artwork catches your eye first—the vivid colours or the intricate feather textures?

08/24/2026

Motivation Monday ✨🙏

Here is a bit of genuine motivation for your feed today and throughout the week 😊

🐭 THE START OF A SPECIAL SERIES: "Harvest Delights" 🍇Every collection begins with a moment of creative inspiration 🎨This...
08/23/2026

🐭 THE START OF A SPECIAL SERIES: "Harvest Delights" 🍇

Every collection begins with a moment of creative inspiration 🎨

This little mouse inspired the rest of my Harvest Mouse collection 🌾

When I started this piece, I did not know it would lead to an ongoing series 🌟

The others in the series are "Purple Joy", which I posted a couple of days ago, "Triumphant Journey" and "Daffodil Discovery", which I recently finished 🌼

Mice are one of my favourite creatures 🐭 And I enjoyed working on his tiny features and charming pose so much that I did not want to stop at just one scene 🌿

I also really enjoy creating original compositions. And I enjoy the challenge of creating a piece from my inspiration, imagination and intuition ✨

I designed this original composition by combining several reference photos sourced with permission and from royalty-free artist resources 📷

Every photo provided a creative spark, and I decided how each element would come together into a harmonious layout 🖼️

This original piece is 100% fine art, created entirely by my hands with soft pastels and pastel pencils—no AI.

🖼️ Title: "Harvest Delights"

📏 Size: 12 x 9.5 inches (30.5 x 24 cm)

🎨 Medium: Derwent Art soft pastel pencils throughout, and Sennelier and Schmincke soft pastel sticks for the background

🖼️ Surface: Clairefontaine PastelMat

SPIRITUAL TRANSFORMATION AND THE UNFOLDING SOUL: "Red Velvet" 🌹 🕯️This crimson macro view invites us to look past modern...
08/22/2026

SPIRITUAL TRANSFORMATION AND THE UNFOLDING SOUL: "Red Velvet" 🌹 🕯️

This crimson macro view invites us to look past modern clichés and explore a rich history of hidden meaning ✨

THE UNFOLDING SOUL 🕊️

In many mystical traditions, the intricate, layered structure of the Rose represents the unfolding of the human soul.

A closed bud is the concealed spiritual self, while the full crimson flower represents Divine awakening and enlightenment.

ALCHEMY AND TRANSFORMATION 🌟

In ancient alchemical studies, the Red Rose is the ultimate symbol of completion.

It represents the rubedo—the final stage of spiritual transformation where all the previous stages of hard work culminate in perfection and wholeness 🕯️

DIVINE MYSTERIES AND SILENCE 🗝️

In both Western and Eastern spiritual practices, the Rose is historically known as the flower of silence and secret mysteries (sub rosa).

The deep crimson colour is seen as a vessel for sacred, hidden truths rather than just earthly passion.

TECHNIQUES

This piece is 100% handmade by me on white PastelMat by Clairefontaine. I'm enjoying using white PastelMat for all of the Roses in this series. The white helps ensure that the Roses remain very vibrant.

I used a black gouache underlayer (Winsor & Newton) to establish a dramatic black background, matching the other Roses in this ongoing series 🌹

I layered PanPastel Artist Pastels pearlescent medium on top of the gouache for a shimmer effect ✨

For the details, I worked petal by petal, layering soft pastel to give the flower deep volume and rich texture. I used mainly soft pastel pencils for this (Caran d'Ache, Faber-Castell Pitt and STABILO CarbOthello) 🖌️

Sennelier soft pastel sticks added the finishing touch for extra vibrant colour saturation and some iridescent accents 💎

The full-sized piece is in the comments for reference 😊

Artwork Details:

🖼️ Title: "Red Velvet"

📏 Size: 9.5 x 7 inches (24 x 18 cm)

🎨 Medium: Soft pastel pencils, soft pastel sticks, PanPastels and gouache

📜 Surface: White PastelMat by Clairefontaine

📷 Reference Photo: Pixabay

✅ When you look at floral art, do you focus purely on the physical beauty of the petals, or are you drawn to the deeper symbolism behind the flowers?

🐭 "PURPLE JOY": Haven Among the Anemones 🌿Multiple reference photos usually require improvisation at the easel 🎨That was...
08/21/2026

🐭 "PURPLE JOY": Haven Among the Anemones 🌿

Multiple reference photos usually require improvisation at the easel 🎨

That was the case for this piece, "Purple Joy". The combined source photos did not achieve a perfect picture.

Instead, I had to improvise to ensure accurate lighting, scale and the overall structure of the scene 🖼️

First, I focused on the scale. I adjusted the size of the Harvest Mouse to make sure he looked believable against the petals 🌸

Next, I worked out a consistent light source. I created the highlights on his fur to match the exact shadows falling across the anemones ☀️

Finally, I anchored him firmly into the scene 🐭

I positioned his paws carefully so he interacts with his environment. I also positioned his body to nestle in the curve of the anemone 🌿

ARTWORK DETAILS

🖼️ Title: "Purple Joy" — 2nd in my Harvest Mouse series

🖌️ Medium: Soft pastel pencils (Derwent Art, STABILO CarbOthello, Caran d'Ache, Faber-Castell Pitt) and pastel sticks (Sennelier and Schmincke)

🎨 Surface: Clairefontaine PastelMat

📏 Size: 12 x 9.5 in (30.5 x 24 cm)

📷 Reference Photos: Assortment of reference photos

✅ What detail of his sanctuary among the petals do you find most captivating?

This is a closer view. See the full piece in the comments below 😊

🪻 THE LANGUAGE OF FLOWERS: "Bluebells for Mom" 🌿Every flower carries a hidden historical meaning 🌸Ancient Greeks, Romans...
08/20/2026

🪻 THE LANGUAGE OF FLOWERS: "Bluebells for Mom" 🌿

Every flower carries a hidden historical meaning 🌸

Ancient Greeks, Romans and Egyptians assigned distinct symbolic traits to individual flowers, weaving them into religious practices, daily celebrations and sacred mythology 🌿

Renaissance painters used specific flowers as coded symbols to signal political and personal alliances, allegiance or royal power within portraits 🎨

The Ottoman Empire used floral arrangements to send secret rhyming notes 💌

Victorians eventually brought all of these ancient traditions together, creating massive published dictionaries dedicated to decoding floral messages 📖

Bluebells were historically given to express gratitude for kindness 🪻

They also signify humility because of their delicate bell-shaped structure, like bowing heads toward the Earth 🌿

Historically, the blue dye extracted from them was long-lasting 🎨 And they return to the same woodland spots year after year. So they are also associated with constancy 🌲

I picked these flowers for my Mom as a child 😊 Learning about the floriography, history and symbolism now brings additional significance to this piece 🪻

I created this piece in soft pastel, relying primarily on soft pastel pencils for the fine details and delicate contrast between the soft petals and the smooth ceramic vase 🎨

ARTWORK DETAILS

🖼️ Title: "Bluebells for Mom"

📏 Size: 6.5 x 9 inches (17 x 23 cm)

📜 Surface: Light green PastelMat by Clairefontaine

🎨 Medium: Soft pastel — PanPastel Artist Pastels and pastel pencils from Derwent Art, Koh-i-noor Hardtmuth CZ Gioconda, STABILO CarbOthello, Faber-Castell Pitt and Caran d'Ache

📷 Reference Photo: iStock / Ludmila Kapustkina (licensed)

✅ Do you know the historical secret message behind your favourite flowers? Let me know in the comments 😊

🦊 WILDLIFE WEDNESDAY: "A Winter's Walk" ❄️The Red Fox is a striking creature and a true master of survival, navigating c...
08/19/2026

🦊 WILDLIFE WEDNESDAY: "A Winter's Walk" ❄️

The Red Fox is a striking creature and a true master of survival, navigating complex situations with strategy rather than relying on brute force ✨

While some people use their platforms to complain and stir up discontent, the Red Fox takes a higher path 🌿

The Red Fox observes their surroundings with keen awareness and moves silently until the timing is perfect 🍂

CORE TRAITS AND MEANINGS

🌍 High adaptability ensures the Red Fox thrives in any landscape. They use cleverness and strategy to outsmart larger adversaries through lateral thinking and unconventional solutions.

🔥 Their fiery rust-red fur links elementally to vitality, passion, creativity and the surge of inspired action.

🕯️ The Red Fox represents liminality and the energy of thresholds and transitions.

🙏 They also embody loyalty, devotion and protection.

SPIRITUAL MEANINGS

There are many profound spiritual meanings symbolically associated with the Red Fox.

🦊 The Red Fox cuts through deception to discern illusions, seeing the hidden motives of others and exposing dishonesty and superficial platitudes.

🛡️ The Red Fox involves energetic camouflage to protect energy from negativity.

🌗 Because they operate in both the dark and the light, Red Foxes represent embracing the shadow self and finding wisdom, healing and balance in buried emotions.

🔥 They also symbolize Divine inspiration, passion and life-force energy.

🌿 As a spirit guide and totem, the Red Fox brings heightened awareness and mental agility, along with the ability to think several steps ahead and fully trust intuition, all while remaining highly adaptive and resourceful.

CULTURAL PERSPECTIVES

🌲 Indigenous North American peoples view the Red Fox as a wise spiritual teacher, protector and creator. They share a close connection with the coyote. These cultures highly value the Red Fox for their keen observation, protection and devotion.

⛩️ In East Asian traditions, the Red Fox acts as an intelligent shapeshifter and messenger. They represent wisdom, longevity and spiritual power.

🍂 European traditions highlight their incredible wit to subvert rigid rules and outwit hunters.

ARTWORK DETAILS

🎨 Title: "A Winter's Walk"

✏️ Medium: Faber-Castell Polychromos coloured pencils

📜 Surface: Arches Papers hot-pressed watercolour paper

📏 Size: 9 x 11.5 in (23 x 29 cm)

📷 Reference photo: Alain Audet via Pixabay



🎨 FINER DETAILS: Creating "Curious Explorer" 🦝This artwork challenged me to balance the soft textures of the Raccoon's f...
08/18/2026

🎨 FINER DETAILS: Creating "Curious Explorer" 🦝

This artwork challenged me to balance the soft textures of the Raccoon's fur with the sharp precision of the water reflection 🌊

I relied on a specific technical strategy to manage the distinct qualities of soft pastel and bring this scene to life.

🌿 COMPOSITION AND DEPTH

I intentionally blurred the green foliage and distant rocks in the background. This technique helps the background recede and creates a strong sense of depth. It draws your eye directly to his face and the reflection.

🖌️ WARM AND COOL TONES

I contrasted the cooler greys and blues in the water and rocks against the warmer brown hues in his fur. This contrast naturally separates him from the environment and makes his reflection stand out.

🐾 THE LAYERING SEQUENCE

I established the top half of the background first. I then completed the Raccoon. Finally, I worked my way down the bottom half of the background to create the water reflection. This top-down process allows the loose pastel dust to fall away naturally.

ARTWORK DETAILS

🖼️ Title: "Curious Explorer"

📜 Surface: Dark grey PastelMat by Clairefontaine

📏 Size: 12 x 9" (30 x 23 cm)

🎨 Medium: Sennelier and Schmincke soft pastel sticks and Caran d'Ache, STABILO Carbothello and Faber-Castell Pitt pastel pencils

📷 Reference: Pixabay

✅ Water reflections can be quite tricky. What element of an artwork usually catches your attention first?

🌸 THE HARMONY OF COLOUR: "Magnolias in Spring" 🌸I thought I would share one of my earlier floral pieces today as a follo...
08/17/2026

🌸 THE HARMONY OF COLOUR: "Magnolias in Spring" 🌸

I thought I would share one of my earlier floral pieces today as a follow up to my earlier Motivation Monday post about flowers, tranquility and safe space ✨

In this watercolour piece, the dark branches create a striking contrast against the pink petals to beautifully ground the bright flowers 🌸

The colours within this artwork carry their own unique symbolism 🎨

The white areas represent purity, perfection and spiritual clarity 🕊️

The pink represents joy and innocence 🌷

The purple aspects represent intuition and nobility 💜

The yellow and green areas represent happiness and friendship 🌿

🎨 Title: "Magnolias in Spring"

📏 Dimensions: 12 x 9.5 in (30.5 x 24 cm)

🖌️ Medium: Winsor & Newton watercolour

📜 Surface: Arches Papers hot-pressed watercolour paper

📷 Reference photo courtesy of Pixabay

✅ Which of these symbolic colours resonates with you today? 😊

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Ottawa, ON

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